“The homeowner was sitting right here out there on the patio, and lighting fireworks, and that’s when the cops came,” said Troy Nabbefeld, who lives next door. “I was in my back door looking out my back window here. I was just wondering what’s going on here, and I kind of knew it was going to happen.”

Appleton Police Chief Peter Helien set the timeline of events for reporters during a press conference. He says Sgt. Greg Pieper responded to a call of illegal fireworks at about 9:15. When Pieper arrived at 120 East Spring Street, he found a 61-year-old man with a gun. Sgt. Pieper radioed for help, and told the man to drop the weapon.

“The suspect refused to obey the officer’s command to drop the handgun in his possession,” said Helien.

Helien says Pieper, a 14-year veteran of the force, shot the man in self-defense.

The man’s next door neighbor, Troy Nabbefeld, says he witnessed the incident.